22-year-old dies after another tragic stabbing in The Strand

(CMR) A young man from Logwood, West Bay was stabbed to death in the parking lot of The Strand complex in the early morning hours of Christmas Eve. Ironically, this is the second Christmas that his family will be mourning the loss of a loved one after his cousin died tragically in West Bay last year also.

Michael Bush (22) succumbed to what is being described as several stab wounds after a major incident around 2: 20 a.m. CMR sources have indicated that he got into an argument with a Jamaican guy over a girl and was stabbed in the head and in his side.

Police confirmed that on Thursday 24 December, police and other emergency services were dispatched to Canal Point Drive, George Town where it was reported that a man was found bleeding and unresponsive in the parking lot of the Strand.

The man, age 22 of West Bay, was believed to have suffered from multiple stab wounds and was transported by ambulance to the Cayman Islands Hospital for treatment. He was believed to have been in a critical and life-threatening condition. Just after 4:45 a.m., while he was being treated at the hospital, he was pronounced dead by the attending doctor.

Bush had shared some of his evening on his IG story and captured himself in a nightclub. But within hours after that tragedy struck and photos of him lying motionless with blood-stained jeans and no shirt under the staircase in the hedges of The Strand complex were in circulation.

Police have launched a murder investigation into this incident and a Major Incident Room has been established. The deceased is believed to have been a patron at the Lilies Night Club just before the incident took place. Detectives are appealing to witnesses who were in attendance at the location and may have seen the suspect or victim in this matter throughout the night. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the MIR at 649-2930.

“We are depending on the people who were present to come forward and speak with the police. We know there was a large crowd at the location; however, we have not had any witnesses come forward with information that could potentially assist the investigation” says Detective Superintendent Peter Lansdown in charge of Criminal Investigations, “We cannot be successful in bring offenders to justice without the cooperation of the community. The problem of violent crime affects us all and we all need to work together to solve it.”

Additionally, anonymous tips may be provided directly to the RCIPS Confidential Tip Line at 949-7777, or via our website. Tips can also be submitted anonymously via the Miami-based call centre of Crime Stoppers at 800-8477(TIPS), or online.

Local businesses in The Strand are concerned about the ongoing violence that appears to be happening around their businesses. They have spoken to CMR and indicated that they are taking all necessary precautions to keep patrons safe but cannot control what happens in the parking lot area. There are several restaurants/bars and now two clubs in the plaza. Several owners have expressed their desire to leave the plaza if the serious incidents are not brought under control.